REACH Compliance

European Union Chemicals Legislation

Rio Tinto has established a comprehensive compliance programme to ensure ongoing compliance with the requirements of the "REACH" legislation, which was enacted by the European Union (EU) in 2007. The EU Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals ("REACH"), aims to manage the risks that chemicals can pose to human health and the environment throughout the EU. REACH places a duty on companies which produce or import chemicals (as defined in the legislation) into the EU and to take appropriate measures to manage any identified risks.

The production or importation of a number of Rio Tinto's products fall within the scope of REACH. The REACH legislation provides for staged implementation with the main compliance deadlines set in 2010, 2013 and 2018. In accordance with the registration process prescribed by REACH, Rio Tinto has registered all the products that required registration in 2010 and has already registered several products which require registration by the 2013 and the 2018 deadlines. Generally minerals, ores and concentrates are exempt from registration. 

Rio Tinto has worked closely with a number of product consortia (being companies with similar products, either imported or manufactured in the EU), to ensure that REACH registration data requirements are being met on a product basis rather than on a company by company basis. This has helped to avoid duplication of data and enables us to make cost effective and consistent product registrations. This approach is also consistent with the recommendations of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

For further information on REACH please refer to ECHA's website. For specific information about Rio Tinto's products and its REACH compliance programme, please contact your relevant sales manager or email reachenquiries@riotinto.com.